Street Renamed for 4-Year-Old Crash Victim Ariel Russo

The corner of 97th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, where 4-year-old Ariel Russo was struck and killed by a vehicle last year in Manhattan is pictured on Monday.

Kevin Hagen for The Wall Street Journal

The parents of 4-year-old Ariel Russo, who was struck and killed by an unlicensed teenage driver in June, gathered with elected officials on an Upper West Side corner Monday to rename a section of street in their daughter’s honor.

Ariel’s parents—Alan and Sofia Russo—were joined by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and council members Ydanis Rodriguez and Mark Levine at West 97th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, where the accident occurred.

“Ariel Russo Place,” the street sign on West 97th between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue read. “(Four Years Old)”.

Ariel’s mother Sophia Russo, with City Council Member Mark Levine, left, family attorney Sanford Rubenstein, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Ariel’s father Alan Russo, right, speaks during a press conference.

Kevin Hagen for The Wall Street Journal

“There was an inexplicable, indefensible four-minute delay between the time of a call to 911 and the dispatching of an ambulance to the scene—a delay that may have made the difference between life and death for this young girl,” said Mr. Levine, noting that last year city council passed a bill that makes it mandatory for the city to record ambulance response times to 911 calls.

“We need to do more than just co-name a street in the honor of Ariel,” said Ms. Mark-Viverito. “We need to do everything we can to prevent this type of tragedy from occurring in the future.”

The late 4-year-old Ariel Russo with her mother Sofia Russo and her brother Jacob are pictured in a photo of a family photograph, taken in Brooklyn on December 19.

Kevin Hagen for the Wall Street Journal

A Department of Investigation report in December said that the delayed 911 response time was due to human error, namely that of EMS dispatcher Edna Pringle, who missed the call on her work screen for four minutes before relief dispatcher Vadim Lopatine noticed it.

This January, a spate of accidents killed three pedestrians in nine days, all within two avenues of the corner where Ariel Russo was killed. Those deaths included another child—Cooper Stock, 9 —who died at 97th and West End Avenue, two blocks away.

Ms. Russo and her husband were presented a copy of the road sign by the council members. The mother attempted to hold back tears as she posed for photographers.

“Today was supposed to be her fifth birthday,” said Ms. Russo. “I haven’t stood at this corner since it happened.” Seven months pregnant, Ms. Russo said she expects to give birth to a baby boy, James, in May.

Mr. Russo, noted that family intentionally chose to leave their other child, three-year-old Jacob, at home. “It would have confused him,” Mr. Russo said.